6. Chapter Six

Chapter Six

Raevyn

I plummeted into darkness. I could still feel the ground beneath my feet, and I could hear the muffled shouts of the guys behind me, but I was in a little bubble. Granted, it was a pitch black bubble, and I couldn't see my hand in front of my face, but there was something that felt safe about being in here.

I reached out my hand and magic hit me hard. It slammed into my chest and stole my breath. It was like a sonic wave, travelling along my skin and settling in my bones. Wow, this creature must be powerful. I might not have had my own magic when I'd been alive, but that hadn't stopped me feeling other peoples. But this guy, was a thousand times more powerful than I'd ever sensed before.

I stretched out my fingers, hoping to feel some part of the creature that was tangible. "I just want to make sure you're okay."

Something brushed against the back of my legs before I was suddenly soaring higher into the dense black mist. When I stopped, aware that I was ridiculously high off the ground, I waited. I could sense something move closer and then, there were two beautiful, golden eyes staring at me from the darkness.

"That wasn't so bad now, was it?" I asked and the creature huffed. "Are you hurt?"

I didn't know what coming back from the dead did to a person, but I was sure there must have been some lingering effects. My own magic was still crawling under my skin. It still felt like it didn't belong to me, and I really hoped that feeling wore off.

I started to descend again, and the creature placed me carefully on the ground. His golden eyes disappeared back into the darkness and the shadows started to fold in on themselves until I was looking at the most gorgeous man I'd ever seen. I mean, seriously. Was attractiveness a requisite for being dead?

He was tall, easily nearly seven foot and his golden skin – of which there was plenty to look at because he was only clad in some loose linen trousers – was covered in tattoos. Swirling designs ran the length of his torso, down both his arms and stopped beneath his chin leaving his face unblemished. His dark hair hung down his back in shaggy waves and his golden eyes stared at me with a mix of curiosity and fear.

He stepped closer to me, his eyes never leaving me as I continued to stare at him. There were so many details I noticed as he closed the distance between us. The silver hoops decorating the shell of his left ear, the sharp, wolf like teeth that peeked between his plump lips, the scars that lay hidden beneath his tattoos, how big his hands were as they reached for my face – oh Gods, he was touching my face. He tipped my chin back, forcing me to look away from him. I wasn't even embarrassed by the fact he clearly knew I was looking at him.

"Why am I here?" he growled, his accent thick but I didn't have the ear to place it. Eastern European maybe? His magic floated over my skin, caressing me in a way that had desire pooling low in my belly.

"I don't know." I placed my hand on his chest, surprised by how warm he was. He broke away from me and started pacing, muttering something under his breath in his native language. Russian perhaps? No, Romanian.

I strained my ears to hear him speak and somehow, I could understand everything he was saying. Why? And how ?

I had to smile at his words though. He was calling me a wicked creature who had bewitched him. How sweet.

He stopped abruptly and faced me. "I need to leave."

"Nope."

"Excuse me?"

Something about him told me this guy was used to getting his own way. He tried to tower over me, but I just stood there and smiled sweetly. Was it wrong that his grumpiness was just a tad adorable?

"I said no. I don't know who you are, what you're planning on doing but there is no way I am letting you out of my sight until we figure out how I got you here." I also didn't want to admit that I didn't want to let him out my sight. Something inside me was demanding that I keep him close, but I had no idea what that meant.

"I'm here for revenge," he hissed softly, his voice filled with venom and hatred at whoever his target was.

"That makes two of us."

He stilled, confused by my words. I got it, I didn't look all badass and evil, so I bet he didn't think I was capable of something like that. But I was, or I would be. I had some witches to make an example of.

His hand snaked around my neck, and he pulled me towards him, his eyes drilling intently into mine as if searching for the truth behind my words.

"You're such a small thing. Perhaps I should just kill you?" he said with a growl, looking like he was actually considering it as he tilted his head slightly.

I leant in closer and brushed my hand along his jaw. "What's your name?"

"Hawk."

I grinned at his immediate answer then chuckled when he growled under his breath, seemingly annoyed with himself at answering so quickly.

"Hawk," I said softly, testing his name with my tongue.

He gripped my neck tighter. "Don't use my name."

I leaned in closer. "Why not?"

He shuddered and his voice dropped even lower. "Because I have not given you free use of it, draguta ."

Beloved.

That's what he'd called me. Still amazed me how I knew that. I'd never been to Romania, let alone studied the language.

"My name is Raevyn." His hand relaxed around my throat, and I took a step back. "Why don't we see if we can come up with a plan?"

"Where are you going?"

I pointed at the guys behind me. "To speak to them about—"

"No," he growled, and snatched me to his chest. His form exploded back into the swirling mist, and I was, once again, climbing higher into the sky. His hands suddenly dwarfed me as he held me tightly to him, and holy shit, I was so far away from the ground.

"Hawk." Korbin's soft voice carried up to us which was impressive considering he hadn't needed to shout for me to hear him all the way up here. "I need you to put Raevyn down."

There was a wicked glint in Hawk's eyes before I was falling through the air. I let out a startled scream as he shifted back to his normal size, ready to catch me in his arms. "Better?"

I laughed as he cradled me to his chest. "Put me down, Hawk."

"No," he replied.

"Why not?" asked Rook.

"Because she's mine."

Well, fuck. How was I going to get out of this one?